Contrary to common belief, and even some prior Shout Bits entries, Pres. Obama’s recent handling of politics in Colorado demonstrates exceptionally poor political instincts. Obama has proven to be adept at sidelining his Democrat rivals and bullying Democrat Moderates into supporting his radical socialist agenda, but he is clueless about the Center Right heart of US politics.

Colorado is a centrist state that has voted for both GOP and Dem candidates statewide. Power is balanced between the extreme far left politics of Denver and Boulder (e.g. Rep. Degette voted to endorse Ramadan, but not Christmas) and a conservative base from smaller towns. Independents, therefore, pull the levers of power in Colorado. Given the demographics of Colorado, an assault from the left will never work; a candidate must placate his base while appealing to independents as well.

When Colorado Gov. Ritter announced his retirement, Obama quickly anointed Sec. Salazar, a Colorado native, to fill the void. Apart from Obama’s arrogance in overriding the Colorado Dem party’s authority, the nomination showed poor political horse sense. While Salazar was a former CO Senator, his policies as Interior Secretary have not played well at home. Salazar has cost Colorado thousands of jobs by enacting anti-mining and drilling policies. True to the new Democrat party’s philosophy, ‘old’ energy jobs like drilling and mining must be eliminated to create ‘new’ energy jobs. Salazar voided mineral leases and enacted tough new regulations on new applications. The effect was a decimation of new Colorado mining and drilling permits. For the hundreds of thousands of Coloradans who depend on mining and drilling, Salazar made the recession even worse. While Obama was oblivious to this baggage, Salazar was not, and he declined the nomination. Most people would prefer the governor’s mansion to a low level cabinet post, but Salazar knew that Colorado Independents would not take his command and control regulations kindly.

Obama quickly moved on to an even worse choice, Denver Mayor Hickenlooper. Hickenlooper may be a moderate by Denver standards, but he is a far left liberal in the eyes of most of Colorado. Hickenlooper has never seen a tax or spending increase he didn’t like; having supported something like 16 tax increases throughout his short political career. He is opposed to Colorado’s TABOR law that limits spending and tax increases, and not surprisingly finds his city in an unprecedented fiscal mess. Hickenlooper is an effete former engineer turned micro-brewer turned politician; his everyman persona wears thin after just a few minutes. Most of Colorado resents Denver and Boulder’s extreme left politics – the annual Ward Churchill protest of Columbus Day, the denial of Christians to march in the Christmas Parade (sorry, the parade of lights), the rezoning of Denver specifically to discourage shoppers who drive cars, and so on. In short Hickenlooper did a fine job of politics in an environment where Republicans don’t even bother to run for mayor, but he will have a hard time winning over people who live in the burbs or on farms.

So, what is Obama’s problem? Why does he poke his nose in Colorado politics and nominate weak far left candidates that are out of touch with independents? Apparently Obama’s political nose has been fouled by too many years in his own far left sanctuary of Chicago. He and Mr. Emanuel probably only know the Colorado of Denver, and don’t realize that on a statewide basis Colorado is actually centrist. With the Democrat party in disarray and its polls falling every week, Obama should have left these decisions to local Dems who better know the territory. Obama just does not get it. His election was mostly due to Republican screw-ups, not a general desire for socialism (i.e. change). Obama needs to wake up to how unpopular his policies and cronies have become, or November will be cold month indeed.